Teen Cast Tackle Annie with Spirit at Aberdeen Arts Centre
Phoenix Youth Theatre reflect on connection, optimism and what local stages make possible.
When Phoenix Youth Theatre stage Annie this week, it's not only about orphan choruses and crooked adults. For 17-year-old Anna, who plays Miss Hannigan, the production has landed at a particularly emotional time. The show, which runs from Wednesday 25 to Saturday 28 June, marks a full-circle moment for Phoenix, whose very first production in the Arts Centre back in 1991 was also Annie. That version starred a young Laura Main, now best known from Call the Midwife. But this time around, the future of the venue itself is uncertain.
“The Arts Centre is Phoenix’s home away from home,” Anna says. “Performing there has always been a pleasure, so to hear its future is in jeopardy is incredibly saddening.” With the Save the Arts Centre campaign gaining momentum, the production feels less like a revival and more like a gesture of care. “Being part of Annie now, when we’re trying to save the place, makes it feel especially meaningful.”
Would you like to see your message here? Let's talk.
POST highlights Aberdeen’s creative scene, from theatre and music to visual arts. We focus on showcasing the city’s unique talent and supporting local voices.
Through stories, artist profiles, and event coverage, we’re here to share what makes Aberdeen vibrant. Sign up for free or support us and go ad-free for just £3 a month.
Seeing old stories in new ways
Anna has enjoyed the challenge of playing someone older, but what stands out more is how she’s been thinking about the show’s themes in today’s world. “It’s hard to compare now with the Great Depression,” she says, “but the show is really about what happens when very different worlds meet. There’s a moment when Roosevelt tells Annie she’s the kind of person a President should have around. That idea, that people in power need to listen to those they overlook, still feels relevant.”
Phoenix Youth Theatre has been running for over 25 years, creating space for young people across Aberdeen to connect through performance. “Phoenix brings together like-minded teenagers who might never have met otherwise,” Anna says. “It’s one of the strongest groups of friends I’ve known.”
Being a part of ‘Annie’ now that we are working to save the centre is incredibly meaningful to me.
A fresh perspective on familiar roles
Because of that closeness, the cast has found it easier to take risks and add nuance to their roles, even when playing characters far older than themselves. “We’ve worked together in different shows and meet every week for classes, so we’re comfortable with each other. That helps us push past any awkwardness and make the characters our own.”
Anna’s performance has also been shaped by her link to the original 1991 cast. “Clare, who was in that first cast, has been one of my best inspirations. I’d love to compare notes with the original Miss Hannigan. It’s such a fun role to play.”
Carrying Annie’s optimism forward
At the heart of it all is Annie herself. “She’s one of the most optimistic characters ever written,” Anna says. “I hope kids who see the show take a bit of that with them. And for adults, maybe there’s something in seeing the world through a child’s eyes again.”
This production of Annie isn’t just a nod to Phoenix’s past. It’s a reminder of what spaces like the Arts Centre allow young performers to do, and why they’re worth protecting.
Annie is showing at Aberdeen Arts Centre from Wed 25 to Sat 28 June. Last-minute tickets are available from Aberdeen Arts Centre.
